Bentley, Bury and Broad Oak

Another Bank Holiday and another quiet racing weekend for Great Bentley RC. A total of seventeen blue vests raced along the country lanes of the medieval town of Hatfield Broad Oak. Originally known as Hatfield Regis, the village takes its current name from the Doodle oak tree in the north of Hatfield forest. This mainly flat 10k course winds its way through a figure of eight and lends itself to great PB potential. First in for the club and doing it for the girls was Sam Godden. Godden, having previously raced herself to a new 5k PB on Thursday evening at Maldon took just 42 minutes 14 seconds to wrap double the distance up. Hollidge, Keitch and Young were also racing for the second time this week. Paul crossed the line first out of the trio in 45m 13s earning himself a bronze standard as well as heading up the club championships for this distance. Charlie paced Scott to a club bronze, with both chaps crossing the line in 46m 52s. Debs Cubberley made short work of the course, collecting her special 30th anniversary medal in 57m 34s. Mr & Mrs Groves, who moved into their new home this weekend, found time to compete. Claire 52m 55s and Luke 1 hour 2m 41s. Good to see both Mark Ross (44m 30s) and Eileen Shadford ((49m 02s) also competing. Claudia Keitch gained a new PB with 54m 44s. Other runners were Gary Hill, Frank Gardiner, Martin Owen, Ade Cherry, Mark Crittenden, Sue Wright and John Bush.

Saturday saw twelve club members run Colchester Parkrun and four travel to Bury St Edmunds. Lee Clarkson and Chusa Bautista, fresh off a plane from Vietnam cruised around in 25m 40s and 25m 46s. Others at Colchester included Jennie Hipkin and Karen Reid. Rumour has it that brothers Charlie and Scott, alongside sister Claudia went on a club cake recce to the Suffolk market town of Bury St Edmunds in the company of Paul Hollidge. Bury Parkrun is a two lap course over grass and through woodland trail. The guys hotfooted around with just over two minutes separating them. Bentley babe Claudia, returned to the visitor centre finishing post in 27m 18s.